"For a durable EIFS exterior, follow installation details to the letter and avoid the use of gypsum sheathing"

The use of exterior insulation finish
systems (EIFS) has grown dramatically
in recent years, in both
commercial and residential markets,
accounting for more than 200
million square feet of building exteriors
in 1991. The systems, sometimes
called "synthetic stucco,"
are economical and give
designers a lot of flexibility
with colors and architectural
details. In addition, they provide
good insulation without
thermal gaps and greatly
reduce air infiltration.
Of the two generic types of
EIFS, polymer-based (PB)
and polymer-modified (PM),
the PB systems are by far the
more commonly used in the
U.S. today. PB systems, sometimes
called "soft-coat," are
typically thin (approximately
1/8 inch total thickness),
adhesively attached, and flexible,
and they require few
control joints. They cannot
tolerate prolonged wetting.
PM systems, on the other
hand, are typically